Post Art Tours Post and the Pig

The Hwy 62 Art Tours have come to an end. Whew! Two fun, busy, art-filled weekends! I want to express my gratitude for each one of you who came to visit me during the tours! I enjoyed seeing everyone, meeting so many new people, and sharing my art with all of you. For those of you who took a piece of art home with you - from the bottom of my heart I thank you! You are the people who help me continue with my life as an artist, and I will never forget it.

I had a little giveaway during the second weekend of the Tours. I want to announce that we have a winner!!! The little giclee of my original painting called "Bacon" will be going to live with Karen Slocum. I have already emailed the winner with the news. A great big thank you to everyone who entered!!! It was a lot of fun. The original painting of "Bacon" sold over the weekend, too, which is also very exciting. I do have other giveaways from time to time here on the blog, so if you didn't win this time, stay tuned for future opportunities.

The giveaway.

The first wall you see upon entering our house.

A wall of new abstractions

If you live nearby and missed seeing my studio during the Art Tours, I do allow studio visits by appointment. Simply email me to arrange a time.

Thanks again, all of you wonderful people!

Take a walk with me

M and I went for a hike with a friend in Joshua Tree National Park last week. This fall season has been a little like spring in reverse. Rain, flowers, and now wind. With allergies to boot! We are seeing more flowers than we ever saw last spring, because of the monsoon rains. It's lovely! Let's all hope the government can get their act together and re-open the Park while people still have a chance to enjoy the flowers....and frogs.

Wait.

Did I just type "frogs"? Why yes, I did. It's true, folks. We saw FROGS on our hike in the desert last week. I very nearly stepped on several, they were so abundant and well-camouflaged. According to my amphibian and reptile book, they are red spotted toads. Unexpected.

The desert floor is covered with yellow Chinchweed (pectis papposa), in addition to datura, amaranth, and a few others I don't know the names of yet. We've been seeing more desert tortoise tracks, but haven't seen a tortoise lately.

In other news, I have been accepted into this year's Joshua Tree National Park Art Show and Faire! This event will be December 7 & 8th. You can visit the website for more details.

The latest coyote painting:

"Winter Coat." Oil on canvas, 20 x 20 inches.  ©Karine Swenson 2013